"Wakasaya started his business int he early 1790s and was active for over one hundred years, issuing a wide range of prints and books until c. 1897. In 1807, he became a member of the Picture Book and Print Publishers Guild (Jihon toiya). In 1811 and 1812 he was one of the print censors. In 1851, he is listed as a member of the Old Faction (Motogumi) of the Picture Book and Print Publishers Guild (Jihon toiya) and then also a member of the Guild of Fan Producers (Uchiwa toiya). Beginning in 1876, publications appeared under the family name Yamamoto Yoichi.

Wakasaya's first publications are series of beautiful women by Utamaro and Toyokuni. Especially with Utamaro he established a good relationship and they did at least seven series together, as well as unserialized prints."